A Pete McKnight goal 6 minutes from time saw the Ants get their competitive season off to a great start with a 1-0 victory away to a well organised Greenock side. The match itself was far from a classic with chances at a premium however this was more to do with good defending than any lack of invention from either side. Greenock’s number 9 had the best two chances from a ‘Nock point of view when he first headed over when he had time to control the ball, and then when he raced clear in on Sean Patrick’s goal, however just as he was about to take aim Darren Taylor appeared from nowhere to get a great tackle in. The Ants for their part had chances for Ball, McKnight and McLaughlin but all failed to really test the keeper.

The Ants took the lead in the 86th minute when Bain ran down the right wing, his cross caught both the keeper and his defender waiting on the other dealing with it and running in at the back to tap home was Ants striker Peter McKnight to open his competitive Ants account and with it give them all 3 points.

Ants Website Man of the Match –

A Ralph Gamba strike in the 90th minute gave the Ants all three points in the match-up between second and third in the league, an outcome that seemed unlikely when Ashfield equalised with four minutes to go against the 10 men of the Ants who had seen Chris McLaughlin sent off for a second booking.

The Ants made a couple of changes to the side that saw off Annbank with Tony Curran coming in for his second start of the season at the expense of Sean Patrick and Michael Milarvie took the place of Ross McDougall who got injured in the warm up, himself having being brought into the side to replace David Donnelly.

The first half finished goalless with Ashfield having the better of the chances and a strong claim for a penalty waived away but it was the Ants who started the second period the brighter and they took the lead in the 66th minute. CHRIS MCLAUGHLIN beat Moulangou to the ball in a 50-50 and then ran towards the Ashfield goal before unleashing a dipping shot which flew past Catterson from fully 30 yards and nestled into the right hand corner of the net.

Ashfield took advantage of McLaughlin’s red card in the 86th minute when a throw in eventually found it’s way to JOSH BOYD at the end of the Ants box and his deflected shot found the back of the net. Earlier in the season the Ants had beaten Ashfield with a winner in the 5th minute of injury time when Anton Conway fired in from a throw in and lightening was to strike again however this time it was RALPH GAMBA who was the hero for the Ants. Andy Scanlan found Brian Henderson from a quick throw in and he put in a cross from the byline which found Gamba a yard out and he fired the ball into the net to send the Ants fans wild.

A fine win which showed the fighting spirit of the team and they will hopefully extend their winning streak to three in a row when Carluke come to town next week.

The Ants have always traditionally struggled at Westfield Park, however a Chris Gordon double after Graeme Crawford opened the scoring meant that they left Denny with all three points and stayed at the top of the Division 2 pile for another week.

The Ants opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, Chris Gordon broke free and ran at the ‘Pace defence who backed off, before an attempted tackle saw the ball head towards the byline, but credit to the Ants top scorer he showed great desire to reach the ball before it went out and crossed to find GRAEME CRAWFORD at the back post who gave Robertson no chance with a fine volley from six yards. The Ants didn’t waste much time in adding to their tally when in the 31st minute they went 2-0 in front. A McLaughlin corner found Boyle at the back post and the debutants shot was turned into the net by CHRIS GORDON much to the delight of the visiting Ants fans and committee.

Right on the stroke of half time they dealt the home side what proved to be a fatal blow when Robertson failed to deal with a McLaughlin free kick, Donnelly knocked it to the back post where Boyle picked it up and his cross was knocked into the goal by CHRIS GORDON for his second and the Ants third of the match.

The second half saw the Ants play on the break for the most part protecting their three goal advantage however you could have forgiven the Ants fans for getting a little nervy when CALLUM HEEPS reduced the deficit to two goals when he fired past Patrick from just outside the box. The Ants defended well though and Patrick remained relatively untested for the remainder of the half for the Ants to run out 3-1 winners.

Ants Website Man of the Match – ANTHONY DEMPSEY

The Ants made it four games unbeaten in the league yesterday at the John Cumming stadium with a fine 3-1 vAntictory against Carluke. JONNY STEPHEN opened the scoring after 7 minutes before IAN WATT equalised for the home side, but CHRIS GORDON put the Ants back in front after 28 minutes then sealed the points from the spot after 84 minutes.

Ants Website Man of the Match – Anthony Dempsey

The Ants took all three points at home to Johnstone Burgh as two CHRIS GORDON strikes either side of a GARY NUGENT strike for the visitors saw the Ants win 2-1.